Sheikh Mohamed Shaheem Ali Saeed, chief spokesperson of the religious Adhaalath party and former State Islamic Minister, has been accused of sexual misconduct in a video broadcast by local media Raajje TV, in which he is seen speaking with a figure in a hijab before leading her through a doorway.
“The video shows Shaheem with a woman who is not his wife, talking and holding hands and going into a bedroom,” said Raajje TV’s Assistant News Editor Dhanish Nasheed.
When Minivan News expressed doubt that it could be accurately concluded that the room was a bedroom, Nasheed claimed that the corner of a bed was visible in the video.
Nasheed said Raajje TV obtained the video from the video-sharing website Daily Motion, however it has since been removed from that site.
Broadcasting the video as evidence of a “sex scandal”, Raajje TV claimed the station could not release further footage in the interest of public decency. Today media was speculating that the woman in the video was the daughter of a senior member in the ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), however her face was not visible in the footage.
Although the only identifying features visible in the video were a profile of the woman’s nose, her watch and a white-cased phone, Raajje TV claimed she was not a wife of Shaheem.
Local media Haveeru reported the alleged scandal on January 7, but the story was removed within an hour of its publication online.
Shaheem has spoken several times to the media in recent weeks expressing Adhaalath’s discontent over the government’s reaction to demands made by religious protesters on December 23, 2011.
Asked whether the tape might be a set-up engineered for political purposes, Dhanish Nasheed insisted that it was not a set-up and that the station believed “something was definitely going on.”
In the video, currently available on Raajje TV’s YouTube channel, a camera at hip-level captures Shaheem speaking with a woman in a black hijab. Aside from her phone, watch and black bag, as well as a brief profile of her nose, no identifying features of the woman are visible during the film.
Shaheem smiles throughout the meeting, raising his eyebrows a few times in a playful fashion, and the two check their respective phones.
At one point the girl is directed to a water bottle behind the camera. The camera moves when she rises to take the bottle.
The meeting concludes when Shaheem takes the girl’s hand while circling around to sit next to her, just behind the camera’s view. The footage of the two holding hands appears to have been repeated several times, implying a longer grasp. The two subsequently rise and leave the room.
Shaheem, who has been identified as one of the world’s top 500 Muslims by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Centre, told Minivan News he would issue his comment on the matter at a later date.
“I do not wish to comment on matters regarding my private life while I am waiting for evidence. I will issue my comment when the time is appropriate,” he said.
Shaheem indicated that his work with Adhaalath Party has not been interrupted.
Police officials did not wish to comment.
In early 2011 a series of sex scandal videos were released implicating members of Maldives National Defense Force (MNDF) and the former Cabinet Secretary.
A police investigation was launched in response to the videos and several arrests were made, including minors. They have since been released, however the cases have not yet been prosecuted as the investigations are ongoing.
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OK, Sheikh Shaheem is a hypocrite. This is indeed important news. However, IMHO, there is more important news. Government has agreed to indirectly charge the people of Maldives for GMR airport development charge and insurance. This means GMR will get (25 mil x 25 yrs) 625 million from only this charge while they are only investing 400 million (Don’t expect actual investment to be anywhere close to this figure). We haven’t factored all the other income (Fuel, landing, duty free, etc..). Looks like news is choreographed to be buried with sheikh convenient (yet inexcusable) behavior.
http://www.haveeru.com.mv/news/39638
@Moor
Don't try to hijack the thread.
We want Shaheem out!
To the Godless vultures swarming around Sheikh Shaheem; while he may indeed have been tempted by a mistress - remember, you too might have done something worthy of punishment; deserving of being garroted for, in fact.
Physicians, heal thy own wounds.
@Moor
Anyone with a little bit of knowledge in business and finance will agree that you just made a fool out of yourself. If you don't know what you're talking about, better not make your opinion public. And I'm not talking about your fantastic conspiracy theories, but rather your apparent lack of knowledge about basic financial calculations in business.
Shaheem may be a hypocrite and an idiot too perhaps but this is low. I get the feeling the girl was on the act. The positioning of the camera and the fact it conveniently hides her face is very suspect. At the end of the day the only footage is of Shaheem holding the girl's hand and nothing more. Shock horror!
If you use this to blackmail him, you are indirectly implying that what he does in the video is somehow wrong, which doesn't make your side look very good either.
Haamanugeh vaahakah rangahluh. Enaa andhaalaa.
@ko
What he says and what he does - isn't the same. The fact that he's a public figure puts him in a position where he needs to be honest. Otherwise he needs to step down with whatever ACT he's trying to achieve.
Seems like you know Shaheem. Tell him to go drink the rest of what was in the bottle, finish the ACT and ask you out next round.
And then you can start drinking the leftover. Shock horror?
Get a life!
Ko: No one is blackmailing Sheikh Shaheem. What's there to blackmail after everyone see the footage? If Adhaalath President Sheikh Imran feels that they are being blackmailed, i think the movie of Sheikh Shaheem is a series that will come in episodes.
Keep tuned to Rajje TV!
@ Dhivehi Hanguraamah : ' Godless Vultures ' are True to their words. But this hypocritic Sheik is not. Quruan Say ' It is those who have knowledge ( religious knowledge ) fear Allah more . ' So everybody expect them to be more pious and behave well than common people since they know more the consequences of disobeying God.After all this 'Pesudo Seikh' is boistorous vocal critic of SPA and massage palours but He himself is enjoying it. Hypocrite ! Practice What you preach. Are you trying to make escape route for this ' Bafoon'? By saying that ' She tempted him '. Infact it is opposite of that. He used his position, influence and money to tempt her. After all he is among one of the ' World most 500 influential Islamic Leaders'.
Proof of high and mighty God Sent scholars being human should be the biggest revelation to the "Better Muslim than Thou" troops.
Shaheem would be allowed to repent and recast his spells on his troops. Our constitution guarantees this.
Sheik Shame! Yes, his name says it all...
I think i'll start worshipping the sun and the moon instead 🙂 heh heh
Sheik Imran Abdulla .. so according to you anyone who criticizes against these suposedly relegious people who measure your faith by the length of your beard is a jew .?? get a life !!
clearly some have done wrong...Sheik Imran Abdulla....is a same some one created here to comment..he will not comment as such
sex scandal!?? lol. is there absolutely anything to report or discuss in that video? if I was shaheem, I would sue the hell out of raaje tv. Iv seen this type of reporting in the UK and Australia, but have never personally seen them go this far. This just sets a new low in journalism. and the funny (or rather sad) thing is, quite a lot here commenting seems to be rather desperate to cling on to anything to have a go at this guy. sure he pissed us off at one time or another. But seriously, one must be smoking something special to interpret anything from this 'leaked' video.
The woman in that clip is not his wife. The size is totally different ...
"no man perfect, may Allah forgive his sins" ! Really!? way to go u moron, WHAT'S YOUR OPINION ON FLOGGING WOMEN WHO ARE "NOT PERFECT" THEN?????
you all are too funny
This is a Knee slapper. Pathetic
Maybe he should be flogged like u do with your women dho? Or u can live in the 20th century instead of in the iceage
“no man perfect, may Allah forgive his sins” ! Really!? way to go u moron, WHAT’S YOUR OPINION ON FLOGGING WOMEN WHO ARE “NOT PERFECT” THEN?????
you all are too funny"
Women are in more immediate need of disciplining because they are stupid and frivolous creatures who are predisposed towards disobedience. It is generally they who tempt men astray and it is they, who are more likely to suffer the torment of hellfire.
"Maybe he should be flogged like u do with your women dho? Or u can live in the 20th century instead of in the iceage"
There was no flogging people during the ice age. This is the 21st century.
oh shit! now to who we must follow as sheikh
sheikh fakeem...hahahahahhah